Meet Nicholas Asad Aren | Actor & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas Asad Aren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicholas, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally from New York. I was born and raised in Queens and eventually moved to Long Island in my teens. I grew up in a small town called Massapequa. A large part of my artistic identity stems from being a child of two hardworking immigrants. My father is Middle Eastern, and having Iraqi-Armenian roots in a region where this kind of heritage was undoubtedly uncommon forced me to seek spaces where I could grow and find acceptance. So, naturally, I found that in the arts, and even so, that was no easy feat.

Well into my adolescence, I faced adversity at every corner for simply being Middle Eastern. From acting class to the baseball field, the labels attached to my heritage by the eyes of the prejudiced felt synonymous with pariah. As a result, I felt like an outcast at every turn. It wasn’t until I started to channel that into my creative works that I began to take ownership of the labels that once made me feel so crushed.

My love for building cars has to be one of the first major creative outlets that provided a sense of belonging. This creativity later seeped into all other aspects of my work, from acting to filmmaking. And, in large, I have my dad to thank for that. Although my father does not define himself as an artist, through cars, he taught me that discipline, patience, and persistence are genuinely so valuable in every kind of craft.

——————————-

When I was 19, I built my first car. It was a 2003 Mustang Cobra, and I loved that thing. Of course, I was in college when I got it, and I worked insane hours at Jiffy Lube and other auto shops in my spare time to afford it–but none of that mattered. I didn’t care how much time I poured into that Mustang because it was my dream car.

However, in reality, the best part about the Mustang was probably all that I learned from that car through spending time with my dad. I’ll never forget us piecing it back together every time it broke down. And, I mean, every time. It’s crazy to think back on it, but I vividly remember us taking that car apart for the first time because it overheated after a 1/4 mile run on the Englishtown Speedway. I blew a head gasket, ripping through 2nd gear. It’s safe to say I had no clue what I was doing, but I was determined to figure it out and fix it. So, fueled by my love for the car and lack of funds to hire someone else to fix it, I toiled away until it was all patched up. This first repair job then officially began my journey of breaking many bolts, shredded screws, and many “…Um, where does this go?” moments. And, through it all, my dad would just sit there and watch as I messed things up, never taking over because he wanted me to learn by action.

In retrospect, this idea of learning by action whole-heartedly served me in every possible way. It has helped me in dramatic performance, filmmaking, and life in general. It gave me an appreciation for patience and consistency that I definitely couldn’t have learned anywhere else. Working on cars gave me the courage to try in difficult moments and trust that if I keep at something, eventually, I just might get it right. And although every car is a puzzle with a different set of pieces, perspective and diligence are all it takes for a breakthrough. These are lessons that helped me keep my head on my shoulders in challenging on-screen moments and allowed me to have such long-lasting dedication to my artistic career.
———————————–

As I said, my father played a significant influence in developing my love of cars. Growing up, the cars my dad had poured his time into taking care of and restoring always fascinated me. There was a kind of magic in watching a car come back to life over time. One of my favorite cars that my father had was probably his Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. I think I loved it because it was one of those cars that tells a story, just by looking at its build. Aside from this car, my other favorites had to be the classic Camaros and Iroc Z’s of my neighbors and uncles. It was such a gift to be surrounded by car culture and connected to something that transcends generations.

Over the years, the concept of cars being this universal connector in my life only proved itself more and more accurate. Some of my fastest and closest friends are those I’ve met through working on cars, going to late-night races, and pulling through car shows. And, still, every time I go to a car meet, even when I’m in a new city, I feel like I’ve been welcomed with open arms by the car community. There’s always someone who’ll be willing to teach you something new, invite you to the next big show, or give you a hand with your ride if your car’s in a pinch. There’s a real sense of community with car people that’s hard to find anywhere else.

That sense of community I found through cars is something I carried with me as I developed more as an artist. Moreover, the lessons I learned by working on cars were so insanely valuable when I first studied in the Conservatory Drama program at the Lee Strasberg Institute for Film & Television. The persistence and dedication I developed in auto shops truly benefited me when I had to workshop scenes for hours. The concept of trying time after time also reflected itself in the form of auditions. Even learning through action kind of defines most drama techniques if you think about it.

And for me, I guess that finding my sense of belonging was an adventure through both cars and artistic craft. As the great Larry Moss once taught me in a workshop, my roots, my heritage, my middle eastern identity, and my love of car culture–all of that is what makes me who I am. And I bring that amalgamation of self to every role I take on (from Power to Wu-tang: An American Saga). I also hope to work on a film one day where my passion for cars can more sharply align with my artistic career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most excited to be working in film and television. Within the past couple of years, I worked on Tv shows like Power on Starz and most recently played Dante Ross, the Record Label AR Rep on Wu-Tang American Saga. One of the greatest lessons on my journey so far has been that our minds must always be willing to learn, understand and adapt while still being true to who we are as people. Also, we must always lead with integrity, be there for others, and be grateful for every adventure life has in store for us. Ideologies like this really do help when being in an industry that requires you to be present and bring your authentic self to the screen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay, if my best friends land for the first time in LA, I’m taking them straight to Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica. It’s hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the area–I never let anyone leave LA without trying a plate of jerk chicken. Afterwards, I’d probably plan a weekend of different restaurants and bars in West Hollywood and maybe hit a track somewhere close to watch some quarter-mile races. And if we have the time, I’d probably wake my friend up early the next day to catch some car shows

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my sister Gabriella Avenue. She is my best friend and one of the most supportive people in my life. Gab not only inspires me daily but her talent and love for the craft of acting are a true pleasure to watch. I’ve never met anyone as resilient, passionate, and brilliant. Gabriella can knock an audition out of the park and then help me race tune the computer in my sports car with custom software before I hit the track on the same night. Whether we’re running lines for auditions, writing scripts, or restoring a 1997 jeep, my sister never fails to show up and exceed all expectations. I know she will be one of the rising actors to watch in the next couple of years. It’s a blessing as her brother; I get to be there with her. I hope to one day work on a film with her.

Website: www.nicholasavenue.com

Instagram: @mostdefinitelynick

Image Credits
Luke fontana